An orthopedic surgeon is a physician whose long, rigorous education and training make him or her an expert on all things musculoskeletal or, in other words, anything that concerns your body’s bones and muscles and especially the things that inhibit the use of either of them. Because the musculoskeletal system is such a comprehensive term regarding the human body, orthopedic surgeons commonly specialize in particular areas such as the hands or the ankles.
Qualifications
After eight years of studying in both university and a medical school, an aspiring orthopedic surgeon typically spends five years in residency training, which is required for any and all medical licenses. This is a much more targeted stage of training that involves working under the close supervision of a physician who has already been through the exact same process.
In addition, orthopedic surgeons commonly take another year to train, especially if they plan on working with a specific part of the body. Every orthopedic surgeon also requires a board certification, which involves a scrutinizing peer review and a series of exams administered by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Because this certification expires every 10 years, orthopedic surgeons are in constant study mode.
Conditions Treated
An orthopedic surgeon in Panama City deals with identifying, treating, and rehabilitating injuries involving bodily movement provided by any of the components of the musculoskeletal system (muscles, joints, ligaments, nerves). As mentioned, you are likely to find surgeons who specialize in a particular area or in a particular field, such as sports or trauma.
Patients with injuries from sports or work accidents typically find themselves in an orthopedic surgeon’s office but orthopedic surgeons, such as the ones at Panhandle Orthopaedics, also treat conditions that range from forms of arthritis and other serious aches and pains to growths and pulled or torn muscles. They also perform a number of surgeries to fix conditions that affect bodily movements.
